We really hope that you enjoy this copy of BSAC Talk. If you have any comments regarding this issue, please let us know by email at maryt@bsac.com

A PDF copy of this issue can also be downloaded at www.bsac.org/etalk/mar05talk.pdf.

Heinke Trophy Winners

The 51st Annual General Meeting of the British Sub Aqua Club is being hosted by Heinke Trophy Winners - Kingston & Elmbridge Sub Aqua Club and will be held at their branch Clubhouse; King George V Car Park, Queen Mary Close (Off Hook Rise South), Tolworth, Surrey on 21st May 2005.

It promises to be a fantastic day. The morning will be the AGM business with registration from 9.00am onwards and the AGM will commence at 10.00am finishing at 13.00hours.

Fabulous fish and chips!

An optional fish and chip lunch can be ordered at registration at a cost of only £4 then a variety of interesting presentations kindly organised by Kingston & Elmbridge will follow. RNLI will be presenting at 14.00 and at 14.45 there will be a MCS "Sea search presentation". To finish off the day's proceedings Tony Marshall, Council member will present the BSAC Golden Oldies a fabulous film collection, which go back years and are well worth a watch!

Riverboat Cruise

The evening entertainment will be a riverboat cruise on the "Kingston Belle" starting at 20.00 going right through until Midnight with a disco and finger buffet on board, at a cost of £28.00 the evening promises to be great fun. Tickets are selling fast so don't be disappointed, ACT NOW! For more information or to book tickets please contact John Rapley at rap@gearbulk.com

We do hope that many of you will come to the AGM and spend time with us and the branch members. It is always a fun occasion and a good opportunity to exchange diving stories.

If you are interested in attending then please contact the branch direct - speak to John Rapley, on 07843 529 187 or 0208 241 1830 or email him at rap@gearbulk.com. Alternatively contact Odette Baker at BSAC HQ where we can take your ticket orders as well on odetteb@bsac.com or 0151 350 6221.

There has been a fantastic response to the BSAC Branch Marketing Pack, which was launched in August 2004. Over 800 branches have received a copy of this useful marketing tool, and feedback from the branches has been encouraging with in-depth reports of the effect the pack has had on the marketing of branches across the UK.

Update

As promised, by Marcus Allen, BSAC Vice-Chairman an update to the pack has been devised and will be available at LIDS on 5th and 6th March 2005. If you are attending LIDS on Sunday 6th March why not go along to the seminar being held at 3:45pm that is being hosted by Marcus along with the BSAC PR company, Image Wizard.

The update will feature extensive reports on the use of the Branch Marketing Pack in branches and is also packed with more good ideas to attract more members to join BSAC branches.

If you are unable to attend LIDS, then Marcus would still like to hear your comments on the Branch Marketing Pack which has proved to a very useful tool. He can be contacted at vice-chairman@bsac.com.

If your branch has not already received a free copy of the Branch Marketing Pack, please complete the form online at www.bsac.org/services/branchmktgpk.htm, or contact membership services on 0151 350 6202/6203.

Launched at LID's - Following the success and popularity of the first BSAC Travel Club photography competition two sections have been introduced for the 2005 competition - Allcomers, for the experts and Newcomer, for beginners. There are two monthly prizes of a signed book ' Dive Cornwall' by Charles Hood from Dive magazine and 'Essential Guide to Underwater digital Photography' by Michael Aw.

Three photos from each section will go forward each month to the final for the chance to win a trip onboard Peter Hughes diveboat Wind Dancer in Tobago and a voucher for £300 from Cameras Underwater.

All entries must be submitted via the photographic section of the BSAC Travel Club website at http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/photography/awardentry.htm.

Full details and rules of the competition are available on the photography section on BSAC Travel Club at http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/photography/award1.htm.

There is a poster enclosed with this edition of BSAC Talk, which we would ask you to put on your club notice board. The poster is also the 2004-winning photograph taken by Pedro Vieyra who won a fabulous trip to the Coral Sea aboard the Undersea Explorer.

Not to be missed international dive show in Asia, 1 - 3 April 2005 featuring;

• Latest Dive Equipment, Specialised Dive Travel and Packages, Leisure Diving, Technical Diving, Professional Diving.
• Dive Industry Updates, Dive Association Forums, Exhibitor- led Sessions.
• 'Faces of the Ocean' Underwater Photography Competition
• Youth Art Talents on Marine Conservation
• 'Live' Scuba try outs and Dive Product Presentations
• Daily Lucky Draws and much, much more

If you are lucky enough to be in this part of the world then why not take the opportunity to go along and see all that this Exhibition has to offer! For more details go to http://www.asiadiveexpo.com

Yet again the Northern Regional Conference has attracted some excellent presentations for its annual conference. DiveWise is to be held at Durham University on Sunday March 13th with an exciting programme for divers of all levels.

Jack Ingle has agreed to attend, however the usual 'kit rigging' presentation is being replaced with something entitled "The Dark Side", no further details have been given so perhaps a surprise is in store.

The British Sub-Aqua Club will be represented by David Dixon from the Holiday Club. As the Holiday website is the most visited of the clubs websites, he will be giving people an insight as to how the Travel Club can be used to best effect by individuals and clubs.

Further presentations based on the regional coaching team and regional branch activities are planned, and as usual all of the coaching team will be there to answer any questions that you or your branch may have.

Further information and tickets are available from Susan Taylor on 01207 237022.

Due to the recent change in Open Water Instructor Chief Examiner, the OWI logsheets currently in circulation will have the incorrect return address on.

Can I ask all club instructors or instructor cross over's who are in possession of one of these logsheets to kindly send their completed sheet's back to HQ address for the attention of the Central Bookings Department. (Please ensure you take a photocopy of all documentation before sending in the post).

To make it even easier for you, we can now accept the logsheets back by fax to 0151 3506253 or by email to bookings@bsac.com.

If you lose your Qualification Record Book (QRB), a replacement can be supplied - see Information Sheet M2 - http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/tecpubm2.htm for the procedure.

It is the responsibility of the Branch Membership Secretary to maintain a record of individual member's qualifications. Diver grade information on members held at BSAC HQ is reliant on feedback detailed on membership renewal forms. Therefore HQ may be unable to provide full information needed to accurately recap a replacement QRB. All HQ can do is confirm membership status and the last known qualification held (if such information was provided) on the last membership renewal form. HQ maintains a 'Lapsed Member' file that started in 1991, but no records of any members prior to that date.

The BSAC strongly recommends that members keep photocopies of the pages of their QRB's, as a back up in the event of loss. This will make recapping the detail for a replacement much easier.

Updating Member details online

Branch member details can be updated at: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/memsfrm1.htm.

Branch Officer details can be updated online at: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/branfrm1.htm.

Branches can register SDC's online at: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/sdc/packreg.htm this method streamlines the process and incorporates a secure server for payment collection.

SDC's can continue to be arranged by completing the registration form and sending by post. Registration forms can be downloaded at: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/sdc/registration.pdf.

For either method of registration, a full two week's notice is essential, to allow HQ to ensure consistent fulfilment of the supply of course materials to arrive prior to the date of the events.

Contracting diabetes does not necessarily prevent a member from continuing diving or a prospective member from taking up the sport with the BSAC.

The first step is to request the 'Diabetes Pack' from BSAC HQ.

The BSAC, in conjunction with the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee (UKSDMC), have devised a straightforward process to follow where members have access to a designated UKSDMC expert in diabetes - Dr C Edge. Details of the member's condition must be recorded on the forms enclosed in the pack, both by the applicant and their own physician. The forms should then be sent direct to Dr C Edge and he will make an expert judgement on the suitability of their fitness to dive.

Just to remind you of the posters we have available to enable you to promote your branch in your area be it in the local shop, library or swimming pool. The posters come in various sizes, A3, A4 and A5.

If you would like some for your branch then please contact membership at membership@bsac.com or contact membership department directly on 0151 350 6202/6208.

You can order these posters from the BSAC website at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/brstatordform.htm.

Q. If a branch decides to operate a common renewal date, this is where all members of a branch renewal at the same time, how is this achieved.

A. Once a branch has decided to renew its members at the same renewal date, the membership secretary should have a breakdown of the common renewal payments and this can be obtained by calling membership services on 0151 350 6208/6202 or email membership@bsac.com. All the that is required after this is for the membership secretary to mark on the members renewal application form, at the branch details part, the branch common renewal date and the amount of subscription the member is paying to take them to the requested date.

Q. Why is Seamanship for Divers still out of stock?

A. Seamanship for divers now has a new title 'Seamanship: a guide for divers' and will be available in June 2005, Retail price £20.00, Members only price £17.00.

If you know friend or colleague who may like to receive this monthly bulletin, please ask them to visit www.bsac.org/etalk, where they can subscribe online.